PHOTO: Students’ Leaders die in an auto-crash

June 14, 2013

Tragedy struck on Thursday, as five student leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), including the senate president of the body, Donald Onukaoguu were killed in a car crash on their way to the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. The students were travelling to Uyo to intervene in the tragic situation in that university which has led to the razing of several university buildings, the closure of the school, and at least one death.
One of the five persons who survived from the accident and currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia claimed that the accident was a result of an illegal road block mounted by the police. He said heavy logs and stones were placed on the road and that the unsuspecting students, who were travelling in a NANS bus rammed into the illegal barrier. The policemen reportedly escaped afterwards.
There are other reports however which say that the NANS bus was hit by an out of control trailer. This was the explanation given by John Meheux, the Abia Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Meheux said the accident, which involved a truck and a mini-bus belonging to NANS, occurred at Ariam-Ndioru Junction in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia.
The NANS leaders were embarking on the urgent trip to Akwa Ibom to help salvage the situation in the University of Uyo before they met their demise. The incident in the University of Uyo was as a result of the new transportation policy of the school in shuttling the students between the old and new campuses of the university.
The death of the NANS leaders has been confirmed by the NANS president, Yinka Gbadebo. Gbadebo blamed the police and surprisingly, the inspector general of police in particular.
“The police under the current IGP killed nine students within one week; the police action is barbaric and we call for the immediate resignation of the IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar,” he said. “We are closing down all campuses in Nigeria and national action will commence immediately.”